From Betty Lewis.

Recently I attended a Victorian Environment Friends Network 13th
Biennial Conference at Grantville in Victoria.

It was the first time I had attended a Friend’s conference and
thoroughly enjoyed the three days. We met some very interesting people,
and listened to some really interesting informative talks, and managed
to do a bit of exploring in the area.

Grantville is on the road to Phillip Island so it is an historical area,
with Churchill Island and French Island both in close proximity.

I was surprised to learn just how many Friends groups there are around
Victoria approx 1000, up from only 1 in 1985.

Friends groups come under Department of Sustainability and Environment.

The work they do in clearing, weeding, and reclaiming neglected parks,
roadside verges, bay side reserves, various small creeks. large creeks,
small lakes, large lakes, and wet lands, is enormous and really valuable
for this State of Victoria.

I was impressed with the involvement and activities of all these Friends
groups, but unfortunately right now, I don’t have the spare time to get
involved, but maybe at a later date.

Most councils are reliant on the Friends networks to keep them informed
as to just what is happening around the state, the suburbs, bayside, and
bushland areas, with the clearing and re vegetation programs, but also
keeping track of the numbers of various birds, and animals, that abound
in the different areas.

That is not to say that all councils or Parks Victoria cooperate re
various requests that Friends put in for works or money for different
projects, but they always listen and are sympathetic to the proposed
projects.

Most of the people at the conference were seniors, and come from all
walks of life ,and they all share the love of the outdoors , and are
passionate about the flora and fauna and of course the making of new
friends.

Every suburb and country town seems to have a Friends group, and all
meet at different times and days, so if the thought of being involved
with all the different activities that Friends groups enjoy , and have
the time, even if its only counting the special birds or animals that
you notice in your area , do contact the Friends Network for details of
the Secretary and phone number for all information

.Just type in “ Victorian Environment Friends Network” then click on
Friends information, up will come a long list of all Friends Groups in
the different area’s with contact details listed.
 

We badly need a back up developer to help Jack Sprat do the technical work at Greypath. Now that we have grown so much, and have a number of new developments emerging, the demands for an addtional part time volunteer developer  have grown too. It can be done remotely on line but a Melbourne based developer will find it much easier to get into the swing of things.

If you are retired or semi retired and would like to join us, for  say one day a week in our South Yarra Office, do email me with some background. ray.lewis@greypath.com

Apart from usual development  matters you could expect to also be involved in the use of higher level site management systems (Drupal), internet TV, Multi media course development for seniors, a new and innovative 3D game for seniors and more. All very enjoyable at times.

Last but not least you will be helping very many of your fellow seniors.

28/08/2009
Daily Express
By: Presswatch

A drink or two a day could help ward off dementia, according to new research. Light to moderate alcohol consumption has been found to cut the chances of older people developing the condition by more than a quarter. Research team leader Dr Kaarin Anstey said: "we found that light to moderate drinkers were 28 per cent less likely to develop Alzheimer's than non-drinkers, 25 per cent less likely to develop vascular dementia and 26 per cent less likely to develop any dementia." The Centre for Mental Health Research at the Australian National University analysed the results of several research projects involving some 10,000 people globally. The centre's report, published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, found that the benefits of modest drinking in reducing dementia risk were the same for men and women.

I am always wary of the factual basis and inferences from such research, but good news is good news!

In keeping up with technology, on behalf of our greypathers, we have decided that Greypath Internet TV is 'worth a go'.

We have integrated various packages of free software to make this happen, and are using simple webcams and our on desk computer as the Internet Station.

We are broadcasting in low resolution at this stage, so that your downloads will take up no more bandwidth, (if you have a limited plan),  than a youtube video. Around 50 megabytes per half hour.

We have added a tab at the top of this page to help you access the Tuesday a.m. broadcasts.

Remembering that these are very early days, and that we are 'learning on the job' as they say, do let us know what you think, with either a comment here or by mail to greypathtv

14/08/2009
The Times
By: Presswatch
Eight hours or forty winks? Rest assured, it's all down to your genes

Researchers have for the first time identified a genetic mutation linked to the amount of sleep people need. Those who carry the mutation sleep on average two hours less a night, but still function perfectly well. In the new research, published in the journal Science, Dr Ying-Hui Fu's team studied a family in which the mother and daughter require significantly less sleep than close relatives.

Some of us more fortunate people have the sleep viking gene!

If you think that old dogs can’t learn new tricks, you wouldn’t be alone. We live in a society that perpetuates a stubborn myth – that ageing is defined by the miserable decline of mind and body until we have nothing left to contribute.

The idea that advancing age could offer exciting opportunities for growth and profound satisfaction is crazy to most people.

However, this is changing. Not only are we witnessing a growing number of older people who are models of enthusiastic and vibrant living, new research shows that our potential can actually blossom with age.

Click here for the full and most interesting article from Ginny Brink.

Its water, water, and more water, that leads the Nation Building Ideas.

 Do have a look and vote from among the many suggestions that came from our Seniors Think Tank. The results go to all political parties and many national influencers.

Every vote adds to our seniors political voice and adds substance to our poll outcomes.

It's water, water, and more water, that leads our Nation Building Ideas.

 Do have a look and vote from among the many suggestions that came from our Seniors Think Tank. The results go to all political parties and many national influencers.

Every vote adds to our seniors political voice and adds substance to our poll outcomes.

After a couple of weeks I now know why we are known as the Silent Generation. Only 29, (now 46!) seniors have voiced their opinion so far via vote on our list of projects.  No wonder we are so often sidelined by government and society at large!

02/07/2009
The Times
By: Presswatch
Soundwaves may be better than surgery on prostate
Men with early-stage prostate cancer could be treated with soundwave technology instead of surgery, leading to fewer side-effects, research suggests. A study of 172 men whose cancer had not spread beyond their prostate found that 92 per cent were free of cancer a year after undergoing the experimental therapy. They were given general anaesthetic and treated with high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), which uses high-frequency soundwaves to kill cancer cells. The results published yesterday found that men treated with HIFU had fewer side-effects than those treated with radiotherapy or surgery. Fewer than 1 per cent had incontinence, none had any bowel problems and 30 to 40 per cent had impotence. Hashim Ahmed, who ran the trial, said that the study suggested that it might be possible to use HIFU more widely in treating men with early prostate cancer with fewer side-effects in the future.